Matthew Wolfenden feared he'd be axed from Emmerdale after learning his character David Metcalfe would get cancer.

So when the actor - who has been on the soap for ten years - discovered that testicular cancer has a 98% survival rate, he was overcome with relief.

Opening up exclusively to Mirror Online, he said: "It did go through my mind that they could kill me off. But I was assured right from the start that these storylines generally need a positive outcome.

"The story actually coincided well with Lorraine Kelly's Check Your Chaps fortnight , which encouraged men to check themselves. Women are aware that they need to check their breasts but men checking their balls has become an embarrassing issue to talk about.

Matthew Wolfenden feared he'd be axed from Emmerdale after learning his character David Metcalfe would get cancer

"We are just trying to get that message out there; check yourself! Testicular cancer is the most treatable form of cancer with the highest survival rate. But that's only if it's caught early enough."

Although David's chances of beating cancer look high, he's set to get quite poorly over the next few weeks as he undergoes chemotherapy.

The treatment severely reduces his white blood cell count, meaning he is left at severe risk of infection - which could kill him.

The actor was relieved after learning testicular cancer has a 98% survival rate (Image: ITV)

"David is on the edge of getting better, but after Dylan passes away from an infection, Jacob thinks the same could happen to David," added Matthew.

"Jacob then becomes obsessive about cleaning, which upsets David. From the research we did, we found out that one of the side effects of chemotherapy is that it can make people angry. Your personality can change considerably."